The "slow aging" trend, which has spread around the cosmetics, beauty, and wellness industries, is now expanding into new drug development. Moving beyond merely slowing the pace of aging, "rejuvenation" technology that restores already aged cells to a youthful state is entering the realm of reality, emerging as a new battleground for the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.
According to the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization's Bio-Economy Research Center on the 15th, U.S. biotech company Life Biosciences has launched the world's first human clinical trial of a rejuvenation gene therapy. It is the first case of applying "partial cellular reprogramming," a technology that restores the function of aged cells to a youthful state, to humans.
The goal of the trial is to evaluate the potential for regenerating damaged optic nerves and the safety of the technology. It is the first human test to verify whether rejuvenation technology can lead to actual disease treatment, not just improve aging markers.
As efforts to manage aging like a disease spread, the related market is growing rapidly. According to market research firm Precedence Research, the global anti-aging market is projected to nearly double from $77.9 billion (Hanwha 117 trillion won) last year to $149.5 billion (about 224 trillion won) in 2035.
Korea's pharmaceutical and biotech industries are also jumping into the race to gain an edge in the anti-aging and rejuvenation markets.
The most watched field lately is GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) class obesity treatments. As studies continue to show that weight loss and metabolic improvement effects may help prevent aging-related diseases, they are emerging as strong candidates in anti-aging.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical has identified rejuvenation as a future growth engine and plans to expand its business portfolio, now focused on oncology, obesity, and metabolic diseases, into anti-aging and rejuvenation by 2030. The GLP-1 obesity drug candidate "Efpeglenatide," now in development for a launch in the second half, is also being reviewed for potential expansion into aging-related diseases.
Attention is also focusing on "reprogramming" technologies that restore cells to a youthful state. Daewoong Pharmaceutical has embarked on research and development of rejuvenation therapies after securing the technology asset and rights of U.S. biotech company Turn Biotechnologies.
Turn Bio's core "ERA platform" uses messenger RNA (mRNA)-based reprogramming factors to restore only the functions diminished by aging while preserving cellular identity. The company plans to expand its applications to aging-related diseases such as ophthalmology and hearing disorders.
GI Innovation is already conducting anti-aging clinical trials. The company carried out a phase 2a study in Korea and Australia of a combination therapy pairing the immuno-oncology candidate "GI-102" with "GIB-7," a microbiome candidate from its affiliate GI Longevity.
According to GI Innovation, assessments of aging-related biomarkers such as immune function, muscle strength, and cognitive function confirmed the potential to extend healthy lifespan in terms of immune and muscle function and quality of life. Based on these results, the company plans to compete for a spot in the finals of the "XPRIZE Healthspan," the world's largest anti-aging competition with a total purse of 150 billion won, at the end of this month.
Research to overcome aging using stem cells is also active. In addition, CHA Biotech is developing a stem cell therapy aimed at reversing aging and restoring function in reproductive organs, while ENCell recently established an "Anti-Aging Business Division" to strengthen its regenerative medicine business based on autologous stem cells.
The government has also moved to support related research. The Ministry of Science and ICT recently launched the "Foundational Technology Development Project for Biologic Aging Reprogramming." The goal is to define aging as a disease-like condition and secure technologies to quantitatively measure and control it.
The project consists of three areas: ▲ aging measurement technology ▲ aging control technology ▲ evaluation of anti-aging technology efficacy. Starting this year through 2030, the government plans to invest a total of 47.5 billion won to secure core technologies and build a research ecosystem. This year's budget is 7.5 billion won.
Lee Ju-heon, director of the Advanced Biotechnology Division at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "Identifying the fundamental principles of aging and developing technologies to return aged cells to a youthful state are core research and development tasks to prepare for a super-aged society," adding, "We will support domestic researchers to secure world-class capabilities in aging research."